Biden in KSA: Improving Relations as a Result of Improving Policies
By Dr. Ali Al-kheshaiban – WHIA
American’s mission in the Middle East doesn’t look like it is at its best. The complex agenda is difficult to get in order because of what the different parties prioritize. All involved parties are pushing the discussion in ways that favor their own agenda without reaching a true consensus. There are multiple issues that need to be addressed, but the parties can’t agree on which one to focus on first. It is clear, at this point, that no party can create a specific list of priorities that the rest can all agree on. Furthermore, addressing the issues will become more and more difficult because of this lack of unity and understanding.
It has been noticed that the American media had their own agenda that wasn’t related to any of the issues that needed to be discussed at the summit. It seems as though their main goal was to make deliberations near impossible to test the other parties’ reactions.
The summit came at a time relating to the multitude of major global events. These incidents seem to have affected the attitudes of the countries towards the current events around the globe and within their own regions; but all of this cannot exceed the strategic relations that the Gulf states acquire in American politics, especially since these strategic relations provide a distinguished position for America in the Gulf countries.
American Politics are very strongly related to the votes of the electorate, no matter the political situation. For example, passing 5 to 6 dollars a gallon on gas is extremely difficult to pass or allow with little pushback from within the White House. It seems they are compelled, especially now, to radically change its policies.
The well-balanced equation says that “improving relations is a result of improving policies.” Perhaps President Biden’s team realizes that this priority in changing policies is at the top of the list in the Gulf countries with high oil production. Everyone realizes that the keyword for the American people is the word “cheap oil.”
President, Joe Biden, came to the region with a lot of issues in mind. Issues occupied all American Minds, especially the press. The American media is pressuring the President for answers when in reality, they need to be mindful and listen to the correct answers to their burning questions. If the American leaders actually want to reach strategic achievements, they must put the old picture of American Politics away and paint a new one. One of truth and justice. They can start by taking the summit more seriously and working with the other parties to reach clear priorities on their list of issues.
However, human desires cannot stop at an end, as the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes acknowledges that a man whose desires have ended cannot live. In light of these international circumstances, the US and the Gulf policy generate renewed desires that transcend the past and the present towards the future. This is what is expected to hear from the US President when visits to the region to hold an exceptional Gulf-US summit by all standards of timing, event, and importance.
Translated/Edited by Malek Joseph
WHIA Intern